Final answer:
Yes, an ethnic group can be perceived and treated as a racial group due to societal constructs that sometimes conflate physical characteristics and cultural traits. This can lead to discrimination akin to that faced by minority groups in society.
Step-by-step explanation:
An ethnic group can indeed be perceived and/or treated as a racial group. This often occurs when society uses physical characteristics or stereotypes associated with a particular ethnic group to categorize it as a race. While race refers to perceived physical differences considered significant within a society, ethnicity describes shared cultural traits like language, religion, and traditions. Despite these definitions, the interpretation of such groups is influenced by social constructs and historical contexts. Therefore, certain ethnic groups, such as Irish or Italian Americans, may be categorized within a broader 'white' racial category. The social perception of ethnic groups as racial categories can sometimes lead to forms of discrimination and social stratification similar to those experienced by minority groups, which are groups that hold less power within a society regardless of their ethnic or racial makeup.